7/23/2018 scgrandjury.org Mail - Mental Health Crisis, Seeking An Integrated Response Grand Jury Mental Health Crisis,

The 24-hour Crisis Intervention Training course has given law enforcement responders additional tools for dealing with people in crisis, resulting in less use of force. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Response Requested by July 16, 2018 Mental Health Crisis City of Capitola Chief of Police

Adding more mental health liaisons and increasing their hours of availability would increase the benefit of this program to law enforcement and people in crisis. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Response Requested by July 16, 2018 Mental Health Crisis City of Capitola Chief of Police

Having law enforcement be the primary responder to non-threatening 9-1-1 EDP calls reduces the overall availability of law enforcement to the community. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Response Requested by July 16, 2018 Mental Health Crisis City of Capitola Chief of Police

The Mobile Emergency Response Team (MERT) is not accessible through 9-1-1, resulting in overuse of law enforcement. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): While we agree that the MERT is not accessible through 9-1-1, we do wish to clarify one point. We do not consider dispatching public safety officers to any 9-1-1 mental health crisis call to be "overuse." In these types of incidents, we encourage residents to call 9- 1-1 even if they are unsure whether an emergency exists. Consequently, public safety officers frequently respond to calls that turn out to not pose imminent threats to life, safety or property, or even require any law enforcement attention. Even so, we do not consider these calls to be "overuse" of public safety resources. As discussed later, differentiating threats based on a mental health-related 9-1-1 call, particularly one from family or loved ones in obvious distress, can be difficult. In these cases, we would not consider dispatching an officer to be "overuse" of resources should the call turn out to require a strictly clinical response. Response Requested by July 16, 2018 Mental Health Crisis City of Capitola Chief of Police